Today, there are many ways to communicate with each other. We can text, call, tweet, post, direct message, email, chat, video call, or just see someone in person. The possibilities are endless, making it easy to communicate with someone if you need to. But the truth is, with the use of cell phones, computers, and tablets it seems as though communication has decreased between us. In the modern era, communication has not increased with the use of technology, but instead it has gotten worse, making our relationships with others suffer as a consequence.
There are many ways that communication has changed. The reliance of cell phones has drastically changed the way in which we communicate with each other, and have contributed to our relationships suffering. Cell phones have made communication easily accessible, causing us to believe our responses will be instant, and making texting the most common form of communication. Now, many people would rather text someone that call or talk in person because it is quick and convenient. Cell phones allow us to quickly communicate with others regardless of where we are, but there are drawbacks to this. People are constantly on their cell phones contacting someone through text or social media. Although cell phones make communicating with someone more convenient, they do not make communication more effective and have proven to be nothing more than a distraction from the interactions we have with others in our daily lives.
Technology has also changed how we build relationships with others. Texting has changed the communication aspect of many relationships. When it comes to dating, relationships often begin with texting and teens and young adults often get to know someone over text before they see or talk to them in person. Texting has ruined romantic relationships because it does not allow us to really get to know someone. It also changes how these relationships progress. Instead of going on a few dates and seeing someone again, texting allows two people to be in constant contact with each other which ruins the excitement of getting to know someone.
With texting being the preferred method of communication, it has forced people to neglect calling. Making a phone call terrifies some people, but it is a better form of communication than texting. A phone call allows for a real conversation and a fast response. However, because we have lost our ability and desire to call someone, we have also lost basic conversation skills which has affected how we interact with people in person. Since people are so used to communicating through technology, having a conversation in person is hard to keep up. And forget just sitting and talking for hours. That is not considered normal because what could you possibly talk about?
Social media has also become a large part of how we communicate. Apps like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook have chat features that allow us to talk to others without having to do it in person. Getting to know and talk to someone over a social media app sounds ridiculous, but it is a common form of communication in the modern era. We chat someone on these apps out of convenience because we did not have their phone number. Communicating over social media is worse than texting because it is through an app, not to a direct phone number. The relationships we build with others are immediately based on these online interactions. Instead, these social media platforms should just be used as a place to share content, not chat with others.
The use of technology has also come the need for instant responses. Many people want an instant response and expect someone to respond instantly to their messages. However, even with the unlimited access to technology, instant responses are not something that should be expected. The point of communication through technology is to make it easier to contact someone, but since it is so convenient to send a message, that is why people expect instant responses. Replying instantly is not a requirement of using technology, but responding to a message that is received is necessary to keep up effective communication. It is important to remember that communication through technology makes it easier to talk to someone, but instantly replying is only necessary when the message is actually urgent.
We have all probably used one of these methods to communicate with each other because it has become the norm of society. However, with all the available forms of communication and the need for instant replies, we still cannot communicate effectively. Communication has been shaped by technology and it has changed the way that we talk to each other. We rely on technology to make plans, get to know someone, and even date. Technology has caused us to need to be in constant contact with the people we know, and if we are not it is assumed we are ignoring them. Instead of just replying to someone and saying what we want to say, it has become easier to not reply and hope they get the message. The relationships we have with each other are suffering as a consequence of misusing technology. It has made dating more complicated, made it harder to make plans with friends, and more difficult to get in touch with people when it is actually important. As we continue to interact this way, it will only get harder to connect with people, as technology will continue to ruin how we communicate with others.
